COMHAIRLE CONTAE ÁTHA CLIATH THEAS
SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL

MEETING OF TERENURE-RATHFARNHAM AREA COMMITTEE (2)

Tuesday, December 09, 2008

MOTION NO. 13

MOTION: Councillor C. Keane

"That this committee discusses the control of dogs act with the aid of a report on (a) how many prosecutions have been successful against dogs wandering loose i.e. not on lead as defined ? How many were prosecutions have been taken in 2008 ? (c) what evidence is required to take a case? e.g against a Rottweiler dog loose on open space where children are playing."

REPORT:

To date in 2008 a total of 72 dog owners have had fines issued to them under Section 9 of the Control of Dogs Act for not keeping a dog under effectual control.

Of these 46 fines were paid and 31 proceeded to a prosecution in Court in 2008 (5 of these were from 2007) for non payment of the fine.

All breeds of dog must be kept under effectual control while in a public place although only certain breeds must wear a muzzle be on a leash and accompanied by a person over the age of 16 years. These breeds include, Pit Bull Terrier, Bull Mastiff, Doberman Pinscher, English Bull Terrier, German Shepherd, Japenese Akita, Japenese Tosa, Rhodesian Ridgeback, Rottweiler, Staffordshire Bull Terrier and every other cross breed of the above.

If a dog is loose on open space and not under effectual control the Dog Warden may sieze the dog or issue a fine to the owner if he witnesses the offence.  In the case of a complaint being made to the Dog Warden of the above offence the complainant must be willing to give evidence in court on any fine issued by the Warden.

The Dog Warden may issue a Direct Prosecution against the owner of a dog.  This would normally be in the event of an attack by the dog on a person.  In this instance the complainant would have to be willing to give evidence in Court if required.